Karbach Brewing Co., one of the nation's fastest-growing craft breweries, has signed a distribution deal that will significantly expand its availability in stores, bars and restaurants from Beaumont to Galveston.

To meet the anticipated demand, Karbach is completing a major expansion of its northwest Houston plant that will give it capacity to produce and sell up to 40,000 barrels annually, up from 15,000 barrels.

That will include new sales in 17 counties across Southeast Texas through a distribution arrangement announced Wednesday with Del Papa Distributing Co.

Karbach had been delivering some beers on its own in a limited area, but the Del Papa deal will put year-round and special-release beers in a wider variety of stores and bars.

Rodney Norrell, Del Papa's brand development manager, said those will go initially to accounts that have shown interest in craft beer. But he added that some of the beers will begin going to retailers that traditionally have not carried many craft brands.

Norrell said the wholesaler's craft segment is its fastest growing and he expects crafts to make up a "significant" portion of the overall volume within five to 10 years.

Del Papa, a traditional Anheuser-Busch house, carries Texans Saint Arnold, Southern Star and Rahr & Sons in addition to major national crafts like New Belgium and Sierra Nevada.

It recently moved its headquarters to Texas City from its longtime base in Galveston. It also has distribution centers in Beaumont and Victoria.